PGA Championship Quiz: 1) What two players won the event 5
times? 2) Who was the last foreigner to win? 3) Who won his
second PGA in 1987? 4) What brothers each won a PGA?
Answers below.
Long Live the King
Well, everyone else is doing it, so I figured I’d repeat the story of
Elvis’s death, back on August 16, 1977, as noted in this space
about two years ago.
It was at 2:20 PM on August 16 that the King died. He had
stayed up all night, doing his partying and racquetball thing with
his buddies. When you realize he was 250 lbs. at this time and
hopelessly out of shape, the latter is hard to believe, but it’s the
legend, and that’s also what you’re told at Graceland. I went
there in 1992 or 1993 with a friend from PIMCO. [To tell the
truth, I scheduled a business trip so that John and I could skip out
in the afternoon to go. Then we had a few pops at the Peabody
Hotel and watched the ducks…I won’t even begin to explain this
if you haven’t been to Memphis.] As for Graceland, what a rip-
off, and whatever you do, don’t go on the Lisa Marie, his airplane.
Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, around 6:00 AM on the 16th,
Elvis began ingesting massive amounts of chemicals and did that
until about 8:00 AM, at which point he tried to get some sleep.
But, unable to do so, around 9:00 AM, he told his 20-year-old
girlfriend Ginger Alden that he was going to read in the
bathroom.
Ginger, who told him not to fall asleep, promptly did so herself,
and then, awakening around 2:20 PM, was distraught to see the
King wasn’t in the bed, but lying on the floor of the bathroom
instead. Rigor mortis was already setting in, but Elvis’s aides, Al
Strada and Joe Esposito, tried to resuscitate him. He was then
rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced
dead of cardiac arrhythmia.
What was Elvis reading? “The Scientific Search for the Face of
Jesus.” It was revealed later that his body contained butabarbital,
codeine, morphine, pentobarbital, Pacidyl, Quaalude, Valium and
Valmid. Yup, that’ll do it. Throw in a couple hundred peanut
butter and banana sandwiches and you’ve got a truly potent
mixture.
Elvis was actually scheduled to marry Ginger on August 27 at his
next concert. But one reason for his behavior on the 16th was the
fact that his mind was also on a book that had been published on
August 12, written by 3 of his ex-bodyguards, which was the first
to chronicle his drug abuse and obsession with firearms, among
other things.
President Carter issued a statement: “Elvis Presley’s death
deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and
irreplaceable…(and) changed the face of American pop
culture…he was a symbol to people the world over, of the
vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country.”
Elvis’s body was placed in a mausoleum alongside his mother in
a public cemetery in Memphis, but after an attempted break-in,
the two were moved to Graceland…father Vernon joined mother
and son about two years later. Elvis then rose from the dead and
can now be seen at Quickie Marts across the country.
[I’ll have more of a true tribute to the King on Thursday.]
College Football
–More preseason Top Tens
……AP…………Sports Illustrated
1) Miami………..Oklahoma
2) Oklahoma…….Miami
3) Florida State….Tennessee
4) Texas…………Texas
5) Tennessee…….Florida State
6) Florida………..Colorado
7) Colorado………Washington State
8) Georgia……….Florida
9) Washington…..Oregon
10) Nebraska……..Georgia
–Sorry, Ken S., SI has Nebraska #14. By the way, Cornhusker
fans, the last time you were totally unranked was October 10,
1981.
–The StocksandNews teams of the year (aside from Wake
Forest) are Louisville and Marshall, which, along with the earlier
ESPN / USA Today poll (Bar Chat 8/9), are listed between #17
and #21 in each.
–There are 117 Division I-A teams, so which are the worst?
Rutgers is #93 in Sports Illustrated (they should be #109), Duke
is at #108, but the bottom three are #115 Connecticut, #116
Arkansas State, and #117 Idaho. On October 5, U Conn travels
to Miami. 72-6 is our early prediction on this one.
Bits and Pieces
–Radio City Music Hall is owned by struggling Cablevision, so
it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the company is toying
with the crown jewels, the Rockettes. Specifically, Cablevision
is trying to get the girls with the million dollar legs to take
buyouts, so the bosses could then hold open auditions and save
on salary.
The Rockettes are unionized, but I was shocked how little they
make, just $20-$24,000 for a 15-week schedule. Cablevision
was offering $3,000 a year for each one worked, though those
who have been there 10 years or more would receive higher
severance payments.
–Back in 1956 the Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria collided with
another liner, the Stockholm, in thick fog off Nantucket. While
the Andrea Doria sunk shortly thereafter, only 51 died as the
Stockholm participated in the rescue of over 1,600 others.
Since then, the Andrea Doria has become known as the “Mount
Everest of diving,” but this past week the 7th diver was killed in
just the last five years exploring it. The wreck lies about 250 feet
below the surface, but the most recent victim perished when he
surfaced without decompressing. Something caused this
experienced fellow to make a break for it, despite the dangers of
doing so. What was it? A giant squid? Godzilla? Well?
–While we’re happy the 10 folks who got dumped in the New
Orleans Aquarium the other day are safe, how about those
wimpy sharks in the Gulf America exhibit? I mean after all, the
walkway collapsed over the tank and the ten people fell in, yet
the sharks scampered away. “Jaws”? I don’t think so.
–If you have a trip planned to Waikiki and the Hilton Hawaiian
Village, just be aware the newest, 400-room tower was closed
due to the discovery of mold. It will cost $10 million to clean it
up. I await further reports from our crack reporter on the scene,
Dan D.
–Well, back on 7/5/01 and 7/11/02 in this space, I wrote of a
New Jersey lad who hails about 5 miles from my office,
basketball player Derrick Caracter. This week’s Sports
Illustrated is now acknowledging this incredible talent. Caracter
is just 14-years-old and at a recent Nike camp in Indianapolis,
was selected by some to be the best “high school” prospect in the
country. Derrick is now up to 6’9” and 286 lbs. He’ll be a
freshman this season and is already being talked of as can’t miss
to go straight to the pros.
–With this week’s PGA, most eyes will once again be on Phil
Mickelson, as he attempts to finally win his first major after 21
other titles on the PGA Tour. The only two in history who
accumulated more wins without a major were Harry Cooper (31)
and Doug Sanders (24).
–I was watching the Buick Open on Sunday, praying that
Esteban Toledo would perform better than he did down the
stretch against Tiger, when I had to take note of the fans and
their moronic “Holy Toledo” shout after each of his drives. 50%
of those in attendance at golf events are truly idiots. The other
50% don’t know the difference between a birdie and a bogey.
Baseball Briefs
–Please, strike…put us Mets fans out of our misery. In fact,
William Berlind has a piece in the Sunday NY Times Magazine
on Mike Piazza in which he describes the Mets clubhouse before
a game. Piazza and Roberto Alomar have lockers next to each
other and don’t even say hello or exchange pleasantries. Berlind
writes:
“Alomar lives alone in a Long Island City condo, and whenever
he gets a chance, he flies back to his home in Cleveland, which is
crammed with posters and paintings of himself.”
Remember the near brawl a few weeks ago between Alomar and
Roger Cedeno? Knowing the above, Berlind adds, “Cedeno
tracked down a picture of Alomar’s rookie baseball card and
taped it up in his locker. When he saw it, Alomar flipped, and
they nearly came to blows in the dugout before the game.”
Oh, brother. I imagine it’s like this in almost every clubhouse
these days. Not like the times your father probably told you
about, when the players would enjoy hanging out with each other
and raising hell. No, now they have their multi-millions and just
live in their own, isolated worlds. Should they strike, they really
don’t have a clue how seriously it will impact them. Us fans are
gone.
–Nonetheless, we will continue to cover the sport right up to the
bitter end. And so we note “Steroid” Sammy Sosa, who on
Saturday and Sunday broke the National League mark for RBIs
in consecutive games, collecting 14, count ‘em, 14 against the
Rockies. Sosa, who just a few years ago was your basic 30-homer
man when suddenly he became Mr. Universe, smashed 3, 3-run
homers on Saturday, tying the Cubs team RBI mark for a game
set by Heine Zimmerman in 1911, and then added 5 ribbies on
Sunday to break the N.L. mark of 13, held by Nate Colbert (1972)
and Mark Whiten (1993). [The A.L. mark for two games is held by
Tony Lazzeri of the Yankees with 15.] Of course the fact that
Sosa achieved his mark at Coors Field means we will have to put
an asterisk in the record book.
–And speaking of Coors Field, which has had more to do with
cheapening the record book than anywhere in the history of the
game, Johnny Mac is keeping his fingers crossed that Barry
Bonds (not one of our favorites around here) actually wins the
batting title, beating out Colorado’s Larry Walker. If Walker
wins, it would be his 4th and he’d begin to get serious Hall of
Fame consideration. Which would really suck…to wit.
Since the start of the 2000 season, Walker has played 160+
games, both home and away, with the following results (through
mid-week).
.293 away / with 25 HR
.390 home / with 44 HR
Additionally, in 1999 Walker hit .461 at home with 26 homers in
232 at bats. That same year he hit .286 on the road with 11
dingers in 206 at bats.
As Johnny says, this is really a .290 hitter, who may just sneak in
the Hall some day. Should that occur, Johnny and I will go up to
Cooperstown and pry his plaque off.
–Randy Johnson is now #5 on the all-time strikeout list.
#1 Nolan Ryan…5,714
#2 Steve Carlton…4,136
#3 Roger Clemens…3,851
#4 Bert Blyleven…3,701
#5 Randy Johnson…3,652
#6 Tom Seaver…3,640
Johnson used to be relatively fragile, and had thrown more than
219 innings only once in his career until 1999 (a year in which he
turned 36). But 2002 will be the 4th straight season where he
tosses more than 240 innings (barring a strike…what a pain to
have to add that after each freakin’ mention of the sport). So
even at 39 (on Sept. 10), you’d expect him to finish 2nd on the list
before he’s finished.
As for the combo of Johnson and Curt Schilling, barring a strike,
the two would most likely threaten the great 1965 Dodger
tandem of Sandy Koufax (26-8) and Don Drysdale (23-12).
Johnson is 17-4, Schilling 19-4. Both have also already
combined for 478 strikeouts (240 for Johnson). Alas, the strike
will destroy chances for immortality.
Speaking of great pitching duos, you’d probably win some bucks
if you asked if there has been any other combo to match or
exceed Koufax and Drysdale’s ’65 performance of 49 wins. Just
glancing through the record book quickly, I had forgotten 1990’s
Oakland A’s, a year which saw Bob Welch go 27-6 and Dave
Stewart 22-11.
–Hard to believe, but as of Sunday 3 of the top 4 RBI men in the
American League are shortstops…A-Rod, Miguel Tejada, and
Nomar.
Top 3 songs for the week of 8/15/64: #1 “Everybody Loves
Somebody” (Dean Martin) #2 “Where Did Our Love Go” (The
Supremes) #3 “A Hard Day’s Night” (The Beatles)
PGA Quiz Answers: 1) Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen are the
only 5-time winners. 2) Vijay Singh was the last foreigner to
win, 1998. 3) Larry Nelson won his second PGA in 1987. 4)
The Hebert Brothers, Lionel and Jay, won in 1957 and 1960,
respectively.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
**By the way, we are approaching a milestone here at Bar Chat.
September 3rd is the big day.
Mr. Cryptic
